Card file



Sept. 22, 1925.'` l.

. E. J. TILLMAN CARD FILE Filed Aug. 25, 1919 7 sheets-sheet 1 gli; O

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' F. J. TILLMAN GARD FILE Filed Aug. 255g 1919 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 m5; fn m f k I ma w Y rffrrmfgmffff f j C sg 00 Q LQ n 0 afa ggg u,

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' F. J. TILLMAN CARD FILE Filed Aug. 25 1919 'T Sheets-Sheet 5 W 6 N 3, n in e 5 w 5, y n m m Q 9 N Q1, AE1 M. 2 up. Tmm, .AA JCd F Sem. 22, w25.

Sept. 22, 1925. l,554,390

F. J. TILLMAN GARD FILE Filed Aug. 25, 1919 'T Sheets-Sheet 7 @2-39.12.

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InYn i or Z/ Patented Sept; 22, 1925.

l UNITED STATESY PATENT oFFlcE.

FERDINAND `J. 'rrnnnaaiml or s'r.v LoUIs, mIssoUnI.

y n cam) FILE.

Application Bled August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,700.

Card' File, of which the following is a' specification.

The primary ob'ect of this invention is 1o to provide a simp e means for preventing a card from beingmisfiled in anyone of a number of card les.

Other and further objects will appear in this specification and be specifically pointed v out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings exemplifyingthis invention and in which-- Fig. 1 is a reduced side elevation of a card file with the cards removed, and partly broken away to expose the partition walls that form compartments, each compartment adaptedto contain 10 cards, and shows in each compartment two steps of different height, over which the cut-out portions of the cards of the respective compartments are adapted to fit.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line H--H of Fig. 1 enlarged and with the cards inserted,but with the cards and partition Walls broken away to expose the steps of different height in the different compartments of the firsthalf of the card file, over which the cut-out portions of the cards of lhe respective compartments are adapted to Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of three cards from the first three compartments of the first half of the card file with the center portions broken away and shows one Wide cut-out portion in the left hand side and one narrow cut-out portion in the ri ht hand side of each card' which are adapte to fit respectively over the first three steps of the first half of the card file shown in Figure 2.

Fig. t is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. l enlarged with the cards` inserted and with the cards and the partition walls broken away to expose the steps ofjdifferent height in the different compartments of the second half ofthe card file over A which the cut-outportions of the cards of he respect1ve` compartments'are adapted to Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of three cards 1n the first three compartments of the second half ofthe card file with the center .portions broken away and shows one narrow cut-out portion in 'the left-hand side and one wide cut-out portion in the righthand side of each card which are adapted to fit respectively over the first three steps of the second half of the card file as shown in i Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a. view of a card from a compartment of the rst half of a cardv file partly torn away to expose a `metal frame inserted inthe card and shows the cut-out portions on each side 'of the card which are adapted to fit over the steps in its respective compartment in the card file and also shows cut-ont portions in the lower edge of the card that are adapted to lit over correspondingly located bars in its respective cardfile. v Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VHTVII of Fig. l and shows a card properly filed in its -respective compartment in the first half of the card file.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. L and shows a card properly filed in its respective compartment in the second half of the card file and also shows a card 'from another card file revented from being filed by means of ars located in the card filey which shows that le `card is not led in its respective card Fig. 9 is a repetition of the sectional view as shown in Fig. 8 and shows that a card from a compartment of the first half of the vcard iile cannot be filed in a compartment of the second half of the card file.

Fig. 10 is a, fragmentary view of the lower portion of a card file showing a card inserted in 'a reverse position.

Fig. 11 is a front view of a card file partly broken away to expose a card from one card file inserted into and shows the oblong cut-out portion of one card out of alignment with the oblonv' shaped bar in the card file indicating that tlie card belongs in a dilerent card file, and also shows that the cut-out portion in the sides of the card are of different height than the steps of the card file indicating that the card belongs in a different compartment.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the lower portion of'a number of cards and shows in dotted lines the number of positions that the oblong sha ed cut-out portions can take along the ower edge of a card and also shows in full lines in each card different positions that the shouldered cut-out portion can take along the lower edge of the card.

Fig. 13 is a continuation of Fig. 12 showing a number of positions that the oblong and shouldered shaped cut-out portions can take along the lower edge of the card.

Fig. 14 is a continuation of Figs. 12 and 13 and shows a position that the oblong and shouldered-shaped cut-out portions can take along the lower edge of the card.

Fig. 15 is a view of a number of different shaped sections of bars used in connection with this invention.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates one of a number of cards used in connection with this invention, each card being numbered in its upper right hand corner and inserted in each card is a metal frame 1, as shown in Fig. 6, containing an extension 2 which is adapted to be struck by a card selecting and raising device upon which a separate application for patent was filed on the same date Ser. No. 319,699 herewith. These extensions 2 are staggered in ten positions, one extension 2 for each card representing the unit digit of the number on the card, and through these extensions 2 the cards 1 are adapted to be selected and raised by the card selecting and raising device. 3 isl a front wall, 4 is a back wall,5 and 6 are side walls constituting a rectangular frame. Fastened to the side walls 5 and 6 and spaced between the front wall 3 and the back wall 4 are a number of partition walls (a) which are for the purpose of forming compartments for separating each cards, and atop portion (al) of the partition walls (a) is numbered to indicate each ten cards and a lower portion (a2) of the partition walls (a) extends below the cards. The lower ends of side walls 5 and 6 are provided with angle portions 7 and 8 an upper part of which is adapted to serve as one of the resting portions for the cards 1 as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 11. This constitutes the card file and will hereaftei be referred to as A.

As before stated the partition walls (a) form compartments; each compartment is adapted to contain 10 cards and each partition wall (a) is numbered at (al) to indicate the cards filed in that compartment, that is, between the front wall 3 and the first partition wall (a) which is numbered 1 0 at (al) the cards numbered from 0 to9 are adapted to be placed and between the first partition wall (a) which is numbered 10 at (al) and the second partition wall (a) which is numbered at al) the cards numbered from 10 to 19 are a apted to be placed, andl between the second partition wall a) which is numbered 20 at (al) and the third partition wall (a) which 1s numbered 3() at (al) the cards numbered from 20 to 29 are adapted to be placed, and so on throughout the length of the card file.

Upon side wall 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 between the front wall 3 and the 50th partition wall (a.) which is numbered 500 at (al) is a series of wide steps or ledges .9, and itowill be noted that the first step 9 starting from the front wall 3 is a'low step and that each successive step throughout this half of of the card file to the 50th partition wall (a) is one step higher. Upon the side wall 6 between the front wall 3 and the 50th partition wall (a) which is numbered 500 at (al) as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a series of 50 narrow steps 10 and it will be noted that the first step 10 starting from the front wall 3 is a high step and that each successive step throughout this half of the card file to the 50th partition wall (a) is one step lower.

The cards numbered from 0 to 9 as shown in Fig. 3 are from the first compartment and are provided with-y a low wide cut-out portion 9a on the left hand side and a high narrow cut out portion 10a on the right hand side and it will be understood by comparing the cut-out portions 9a and 10a of the cards shown in Figure 3 and the first steps 9 and 10 of the card file shown in Fig. 2 that the cut-out portions 9a and 10a of the card numbered from O to 9 are adapted to fit over the first steps 9 and 10 of the card file A as shown in Fig. 2, and that the cut-outportions 91 and 10a of the cards which are numbered from 10 to 19 which are from the second compartment as shown in Fig. 3 are adapted to fit over the second step 9 and 10 of the card file A as shown in Fig. 2 and that the cut-outportions 9n and 10n of the cards numbered from 2O to 29 which are from the third 'compartment as shown in Fig. 3 are adapted to fit over the third steps 9 and 10 of the card file A as shown in Fig. 2 and it will be understood that the cut-out portions 9a and 10 of the cards will continue to match the different steps 9 and 10 of the different compartments throughout the first half of the card file, and it will also be understood that if a card from the first compartment containing cards numbered from O to 9 were placed in the third comcompartment containing cards numbered from 20 to 29 were placed inthe first com-- from the third compartment is not of the of the card from the first compartment is not of the same height as the step 9 of the third compartment, and if a card from the third partment. adapted to containn cards numbered from 0 to 9, that the' cut-out portion 10i of the card would not t over the step 10 of the first compartment of the card file, because the cut-out portion 10a of the card same height as the step 10 of the first compartment of the card file A.- A

It will now be seen that a card from one compartment of the'rst half of they card file cannot be led in any other compartment of the first half ofthe card file.

A method of preventing a card from being misyled n the secomkwZf of the card fil 'will 'now be described.'

As before stated' the partition walls (a) 'form compartments, each compartment adapted to contain ten cards, and each partition wall (ai) is numbered at (at) to indicate the cards filed in that compartment, that is, between the fiftieth partition walh. (a) which is numbered 500 at (al) and the fiftyfirst partition wall (al) Whichis numbered 510'at (a9) the cards numbered from 500 to 509 are adapted to be placed, and between.

fifty-first partition wall (a.) which is vnumbered 510 at (al) and the fifty-second partition Wall (a.) which is numbered 520 at (al),

y the cards numbered from 510 to' 519 'are I starting from the fiftieth partition wall (a) is a low step and that each successive step to the back wall 4 is one step higher.

Upon the sidewall 6 between the fiftieth partition wall (rz) which is numbered 500 at (al) and the back wall 4 is a series of 50 wide steps 12 and it will be noted .that the first step 12 starting from the fiftieth partition wall (a) is a. high step and that each successive step throughout this half of the card file to the back Wall 4 is one step lower.

The cards numbered from 500 to 509 as shown in Fig. 5 are provided with a low narrow cut-,out portion 11a on'the left-hand side and a high Wide cut-out portion 12 on the right-hand side, and it can'readily be understood by comparing the cut-out ortions 11a and 12 of the cards shown in i 5 and the steps 11 and 12 of the card file as shown in Fig. 4 that the cut-out portions 11a and 12a of the cards numbered from '500 to 509 which are from the first compartment of the second half of the card file, are adapted to fit over the steps 11 and 12 of the rst compartment of the second half of the card file as shown in Fig. 4 and the cut-out portions 11v and 12a of the cards numbered from 510 to 519 which are from the. second compartment of the second half of the card file as shown in Fig. 5 are adapted to t over the steps 11 and 12 of the second compartment of the second half'of the card file as shown lin Fig. 4 and that the cut-out portions 11a and 12a of the cards numbered from 520 to 529 which are from the third compartment 'of the second half of the card file as shown in Fig. 5 are adapted to fit over the steps 11 and 12 of the third compartment of the second half' of the card file as shown in Fig. 4 and it will now be seen that the cutout portions 11a and 12a of the cards will continue to match the steps 11 and 12 in different compartments throughout the second half of the card file A.

It will now be seen that if a card numbered from 500 to 509, which is from the first compartment of the second half of the card file, were placed into the third compartment of the second half of the cardfile, that the cut-out'portion 11@t of the card would not fit over the step 11 of the card file A, because the cut-out portion 11L of the card numbered from 500 to 509 which is from the first compartment of the second half of the card file, is not of the same height as the step 11 of the third compartment of the second half of the card file, and if a card numbered from Y partment of the second half of the card file A;

It will now be seen that a card from one compartment from the second half of the -card file cannot be filed in any other compartment in the second half of the card file.

Referring to Fig. 9 it will be noted that the card numbered 349 which belongs in the first half of the card file has been inserted in front of the partition' wall (a) numbered 850 at (al) which is in the second halt` of the card file and it will be seen that the narrow cut-out portion 10 of the card does not fit over the wide step 12 of the card file A, therefore it can readily be seen that a card from a compartment of the first half of the card lile cannot be liled in a compartment ol the second half of the, card file, and that a card from tbe second half of the card file cannot be filed in a compartment of the lirst half of the card lileV because the narrow cut-out portion ll of the card wouldnot t over the wide step 9 of the card file A, therefore it can readily be seen that a card from one compartment cannot be filed in any other compartment throughout the length of the card file A.

A met/od for preventing a card from being ylcfl in a reversaposz'tz'on willow/w be described:

Near the lower left hand side of the card file A, located between and fastened to the front n all 3 and the back wall 4 and passing under all the partition walls (a) is a triangular bar K, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Near the lower left hand edge of each card is a triangular eut-out portion K best shown in Fig. 6. This triangular cut-out portion K is adapted to fit over the triangular shaped bar K, and if a card were to be filed in a reverse position as shown in Fig. 10, that is, with theA triangular cut-out portion K on the right hand side of the card Iile in place of on the left hand side ot' the card file, the triangular bar K would prevent the card from being inserted, because the lower edge of the card would .strike against the top of the triangular bar K.

A method for pre/venting a card from being filed n a wrong Caml file will now be described:

Cut in the lower edge of each card is an oblong cut out portion E and a shouldered cut-out portion F. Between the front wall 3 and the back wall 4, and passing through all the partition walls (a) is an oblong bar E and a shoulder bar F and the oblong cutout portion E and the 'shouldered cut-out portion F of the cards are adapted to it over the oblong bar E and the shoulder bar F of the card file A, when the card is filed in its respective. eard file. In the card file containing cards numbered from 0`to 999, the oblong bar E is placed near the left-hand side of the card file A as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7, 8, and 9 aud the cards which are numbered from 0 to 999 have the oblong cut-ont portion E eut to fit over the oblong bar E in this position` and the shouldered cut-out portion F is cut in the card to fit over theshoulder bar F in this file. In the card file containing cards numbered from 1000 to 1999, the oblong bar 1position to the right 1999, as shown in Fig. 1l the oblong cut-- out portion E in the card would be out of alignment one position to the left of the bar E as shown in Fig. 11 and if a card from the card lile adapted to contain cards numbered from 1900 to 1999 were yto be placed in the card file adapted to contain cards numbered from 0 to 999 as shown in Fig. 8 the oblong cut-out portion E in the card would be out of alignment one position to the right with the oblong shaped bar E of the card file A.

It has already been stated that each card file contains one thousand cards and that each card file contains two bars and in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 the lower portions of a number of cards show the number of diierent positions that the oblong cut-out portion E and the shouldered cut-out portion F can take along the lower edge of a card. The first card shown in Fig. 12 shows in 'full lines the oblong cut-out portion E and the shouldered cut-out portions F in the position that they take in the card file adapted to contain cards numbered from 0 to 999 and the irst card in Fig. 12 also shows in dotted lines twenty-four additional positions that the oblong eut-out portion E can take along the lower edge of the card without changing the position of the shouldered cut-out portion F.

It will now be noted that the cut-out portion E takes 25 positions in the first 25 card files and as each card file contains 1000 cards, it can readily be seen that 25000 cards are governed by the positions that the cutout portion E takes. It will be noted in the second card of Fig. 12 that the shouldered cut-out portion F has been moved over one position to the left and that the oblong cut-out portion E can take positions along the lower edge of the card thereby governing 25 more card files or 25000 moi-ecards making the total 50,000 cards, and every time the shouldered cut-out portion F is moved one position to the left, it governs 25 additional card files or 25000 additional cards, and it can readily be seen by referring toFig. 14 that these two bars E and F govern 650 positions in 650 card files or 650,000 cards.

It will be noted in Fig. 15 that a number of different shaped bars are shown, and as the use of bars E and F has just beenfex` plained, it can readily be seen that by using bar E in connection with bar G, that 650 more positions can be had by the combinais left in the same.

lis

tion of these two bars and therefore 650,000 additional cards are governed by these two bars and so on, as follows:

E bar and F'bar govern 050, 000 cards E barand G bar govern.. ,000 cards E bar and H bar govern.. 650, 000 cards E bar and K bar govern.. 650, 000 cards E bar and L bar govern.- 650, 000 cards E bar and M bar. govern.. 650, 000 cards E bar and N bar govern.. 650,000 cards 4, `550, 000 cards 4, 550, 000 cards F bar and G bar govern 650,000 cards F bar and H bar govern.. 650, 000 cards F bar and K bar govern. 650, 000 cards F 650, 000 cards F 650, 000 cards F 650, 000 cards i Total 3, 900,000 cards 3, 900, 000 cards G bar and H bar govern.- 650,000 cards G bar and K bar govern.. 650, 000 cards G bar and L bar govern.. 650, 000 cards G bar and M bar govern 650, 000 cards G bar and N bar govern..-. 650, 000 cardsA Total 3, 250, 000 cards 3, 250, 000 cards ,H bar and K bar govern 650, 000 cards H 650, 000 cards H 650, 000 cards H 650, 000 cards 2, 600, 000 cards 2, 600, 000 cards K 650, 000 cards K 650, 000 cards K 650, 000 cards Total l, 950, 000 cards l, 050, 000 cards L bar and M bar govern 650, 000 cards L bar and N bar govern-.'..- 650, 000 cards 1, 300, 000 cards 1, 300, 000 cards M hat and N bar govern. 650, 000 cards 650, 000 cards Grand total 18, 200, 000 cards It will now be understood that if in place of the triangular bar K used to prevent y Bar E in place of bar K governs-. Bar F in place of bar K governs.. Bar G in place of bar K governs-- Bar H in place of bar K governs.. Bar L in place of bar K governs.- Bar Min place of bar K governs.-- Bar N in place of bar K governs 18, 200,

There are a number of other ways of increasing the number of combinations such as, offsetting the bars only half the width of the bars or of offsetting the bars only one-quarter the width of the bars, or by using different shaped bars, or by allowing more space along the lower edge of the cards so that more room can be made for the bars.

What I claim is:

1. An index card having 'a cutaway portion vformed on each end edge and extending a distance upwardly from the bottom thereof, .one ofthe cutaway portions extending farther than the other.

2.An index card having a cutaway portion formed on each end edge and extending a distance upwardly from the bottom thereof, said cutaway portions providing upwardly arranged outwardly extending shouldered portions, one of said shouldered portions having a depth greater than the other shouldered portion.

3. Acard file comprising side walls, cardrestin portions forming a part of the le, one o said side walls being provided with ledges arranged in step formation relative to one another, and a plurality of cards to be contained in 4the ile adapted to engage the card-resting portions, each having a co'- operable portion formed thereon for a respective ledgef the ile.

4. An index card adapted -to be held on an edge in an approximate vertical Osition,

a receptacle for said card, and di erently positioned identifying means provided on a pair of edges of the, card cooperable with portions formed in said receptacle.

5. An index card adapted to be held on an edge in an' approximately vertical position, a receptacle for said card and diferently positioned identifying means provided on opposing edges'of said card cooperable with AAportions formed insaid receptacle.

6. n index card having a cutaway portion formed on each end edge thereof, one of said cutaway portions extending a further distance upwardly than the other cutaway portior, therebyprovidin a pair of opposing shoulders which exten to the top edge of the card, one of said shoulders hav- Aing a depth greater than the other shoulder.

A card file containing a plurality of card-holding compartments, each compartment being provided with a pair of oppositely disposed card-fitting characteristics and adapted to `contain a group of cards, each card ofeach card group having characteristics formed on opposing edges thereof for cooperation with the opposite characteristics of the compartment in which it lis to be contained.

8. A card filing system, comprising a cardholding receptacle, said receptacle being divided into compartments, each compartment having a different card-fitting characteristic and ada ted to contain a group of cards, each car of each card group having a characteristic conforming to the characteristic of the compartment in which it is to be contained, all of the cards of the compartments bearing an alining notch and'` there being a portion extending longitudinally of the receptacle for engagement with the alining notches of said notched cards.

9. A card file` containing compartments each adapted to contain anumber of cards, each compartment having a step 4portion formed on one of its side walls which is offset from: those on the compartments next adjacent, each card 4having a cut-out portion formed on an edge for engagement with a respective step portion.

10. A card file containing compartments each adapted to contain a number of cards,

each compartment having a step portion formed on each of its side walls which are opposing edges for cooperation with a respective step portion.

11. A card file containing compartments each adapted to contain a number of cards, each compartment having a step ortion formed on each of its side Walls eac card having a cut-out portion formed on opposing edges or engagement with said step portions, the step portions of each compartment being differently positioned relative to one another. f

12. A card file containing partitions forming compartments, each compartment being numbered Jfor separating cards into groups, each compartment having a step portion on each side thereof of different heights, and there being cut-out portionsformed on each of the cards of each compartment cooperable with said step portions.

13. A card file having side Walls in which are formed step portions of diierent heights, and there being cooperable portions formed on the cards contained in the card iile, said cooperable portions of said cards providing means for properly locatingthe cards in the file.

14. In a card tiling system, a series of receptacles each containing a plurality of numbered compartments, a group of cards located in each compartment, each card being numbered, each compartment having a differently located step portion, the cards of each card group each having a cut-out portion for the reception of the step portions of their respective compartments.

15. In a card filing system, a series of receptacles, each containing a plurality of numbered compartments, each `card being numbered, each compartment having a differently located step portion, the cards of each card group each having a cut-out portion for the reception of the step portion of their respective compartments, all of the cards of each receptacle being provided with alining notches, the alining notches of the cards of each receptacle being diii'erently positioned and means extending the length of each receptacle for engagement with the alining notches of the cards of each respective receptacle.

16. A card tiling system comprising a receptacle divided into a plurality of compartments each compartment being providedwith a card resting portion and a card gagirg ledge, the car gaging ledge of each compartment being on a plane higher than the card-gaging ledge of an adjacent compartment.

V17. A card holding receptacle divided into a plurality of compartments for holding cards in approximatelyl vertical positions each having a card gaging portion on one side, the card gaging portions of successive compartments being arranged in step formation to one another.

18. A card holding receptacle divided .into a plurality of compartments for holding cards in approximately vertical positions, an end Wall of each of said compartments having a ledge, said ledges being arranged in step formation to one another from one end ofthe receptacle to a point intermediate of the ends of the receptacle, the compartments of the receptacle beyond the intermediate part thereof having other step formation portions graduating oppositely to the stepformation portions which lead to the intermediate part of the receptacle.

19. A card file receptacle divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a pair of opposing differently positioned ledges, the ledges of each compartment being on planes different than the ledges of an adjacent compartment.

20. A card file receptacle divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment having a pair of opposing card engaging ledges, each ledge of each compartment being on a plane higher than each ledge ot an adjacent compartment, each of said compartments being for the reception of a group of cards, each card of each group being rovided with oppositely disposed shoult ers which are adapted to cooperate with the ledges of their respective compartments.

21. A card iile containing a plurality of card-holding compartments, end Walls for said compartments, one of the end Walls of each compartment being provided with a card fitting characteristic differing from those in the other compartments, each of said compartments adapted to contain a group of cards, each card of each group having a portion conforming to the characterlistlic of theycompartment in which it is to be ie c.

22. A card file comprising side walls, each of said side walls being provided with cardcooperating means for permitting certain cards to be mounted in the tile, said cardcooperating means of one of said Walls being arranged in ascending step formation, the said card-cooperating means of said other side Wall being oppositely disposed from said first card-cooperating means and arranged in descending step formation. v

23. A cardfile comprising side Walls, each of said side Walls being provided with cardcooperating means for permitting certain cards to be mounted in the file, said cardcooperating means of one of said Walls being arranged in ascending step formation, the said card-cooperating means of said other side Wall being oppositely disposed from said first card-cooperating means and arranged in descending step formation, said file being divided into a lurality of transversely disposed card-holding compartments.

FERDINAND J. TILLMAN. 

